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Abstract

This project is the Danish part of an international comparative questionnaire survey, The European Values Survey, which has been carried out in a large number of countries in and outside Europe since 1980. The questionnaires are identical in all the participating countries. # The purpose of the project is to make multidimensional measurements of the values of the population in a large number of countries all over the world. This is the fourth wave of interview The first wave was carried out in 26 countries (including Denmark) in the beginning of the 1980s (DDA-0829), the second wave in approx. 40 countries in 1990 (DDA-1523), and the third wave in approx. 45 countries in 1995 (Denmark did not participate in this wave). This fourth wave was carried out in 1999. # This means that the result of the project is a unique and extraordinarily large data material as immediately comparable data will be available from a large number of countries at different points in time. #The 1999-survey in Denmark uses the same questionnaire as in all the other participating countries. There are, however, two changes compared with the international project: a particular possibility of including panel data, and the inclusion of qualitative data which may supplement the analysis of the survey questions. # #Panel data: In all the countries the survey was carried out as a cross-sectional survey. In connection with the 1990-survey, the Danish National Institute of Social Research based the sampling and the interviewing on personal code numbers. Upon permission granted by the Danish Data Surveillance Authority it was possible to re-interview the persons in 1999. This panel design has only been possible in Denmark. Whereas the other countries can only map out changes of values in cohorts, it is possible in Denmark to examine individual changes of values. The panel design means that it is far more reliable to make causality analyses. The unique Danish design will therefore give Danish researchers much better analysis possibilities than researchers in any of the other participating countries. The panel design means more certain knowledge and will thereby strengthen the analyses of the values surveys. The panel design does, however, result in certain difficulties as regards comparisons with other countries as this design means that the measurements in 1990 and in 1999 are not independent. This causes difficulties compared with the other countries which all use the cross-sectional design. These difficulties appear for instance in the form of it being necessary to use different statistical tests in panel surveys and in cross-sectional surveys, respectively. This means that it is necessary to have both a panel part and a cross-sectional part. The panel part because it will give better possiblities for analyses, the cross-sectional part for the sake of international comparisons. This means that the total number of interviews has to be increased as compared to a cross-sectional survey. In other words, the problems arising may be solved by using the two different designs. # #The values surveys comprise a wide range of values, in particular values in relation to religion, work, politics, family, and moral values in general. It is therefore possible to put forward hypotheses within the separate areas as well as for the total pattern of values. # #The question of values may be divided into two main questions: #1. The nature and development of the values in the separate # sectors, corresponding to social institutions. In this # connection the studies of changes of values should be attached # to the development of the relevant social institutions. #2. Differences regarding values and the development of values in # various parts of the population. In both cases the questions # may be examined within Denmark or through comparisons with # other countries